Hotel Xcaret Wedding | Cancun, MX
The Destination Wedding of our Dreams!
After ten years together (these two have been in love since high school 🥲), Kiesa and Mason decided they wanted to go big for their wedding to celebrate. These are two people who are so well known and loved by their community, and wanted to celebrate that by gathering their closest people. Kiesa and Mason wanted more than just one day with everyone they love most, and so decided a destination wedding weekend was the best way to truly celebrate their love in style. Hotel Xcaret’s picturesque, hilltop chapel ceremony space caught their eye, and planning began.
We got to be the lucky ones to join Kiesa and Mason for their wedding weekend and to celebrate them alongside all their family and friends! Having everyone stay in one place ensured tons of quality time with all their guests, and we could not recommend going this route more for our couples wanting to make this the focus of their wedding weekend. We were so excited to pack our bags and head south to Cancun, and to finally Hotel Xcaret, a place that had been so hyped up for us over the past year and a half of working with Kiesa and Mason to plan their day!
I love the way a resort wedding truly contributes to an overall relaxed vibe of a wedding day— everything was on site and mere steps away from Kiesa and Mason and their people’s rooms. No one had to travel too far for anything, and no travel logistics (often stressful on a wedding day) had to be factored in. And so getting ready time could happen at a slower pace. Kiesa and Mason were free to laugh and make memories with everyone helping them get ready. This energy was so tangible when we entered the room to begin photographing their day. I also love how big and well lit the rooms at Hotel Xcaret are— anyone who knows about wedding photography knows hotel rooms in general can be rather hit or miss, especially with lighting! The entire property was so photogenic and thoughtfully decorated and manicured. We truly could have spent all day wandering and taking photos if we wanted to!
Kiesa shared a very sweet and emotional first look with her dad, before seeing Mason for the first time. I love the depth provided by the lush flora and canals around Hotel Xcaret, making so many perfect locations to capture all these moments. We also were able to capture almost all of Kiesa and Mason’s bridal party and formal family portraits before their ceremony, so we could just move straight to celebrating and being present afterward. I especially loved finding the grand stairs in the middle of the resort, and re-creating a groomsmen photo a la the 2024 USA men’s basketball team after winning their gold medals.
Kiesa and Mason were married by Mason’s older brother in front of the very backdrop that made them fall in love with Hotel Xcaret in the first place. It was a short and sweet and Jesus-centered ceremony, witnessed by Kiesa and Mason’s very, very excited family and friends. We then swiftly moved into celebrating the newlyweds! Hotel Xcaret’s reception space was on the beach, surrounded by caves, with a stunning lagoon as the backdrop. It felt so sweet and intimate and removed from the rest of the resort. Guests laughed and cheered over margaritas, some even wading into the water as the sun set for the evening (it was very, very hot all day, so the water was a welcome reprieve!).
We went for a little adventure around property with Kiesa and Mason to watch the sunset and capture some newlywed photos. They wanted to capture the unique spaces around the resort, and a bit of the quintessential Mexico destination wedding vibe as well! As the sun set for the evening, we headed back to their reception for dinner, and for the party to really begin. Kiesa and Mason have been in each other’s lives for so long, that their families have truly become close as well. This was so evident as heartfelt toasts were given by a number of family members. Tears were shed and many, many laughs were had. This time provided the perfect segue into the dancing part of the evening—
As I mentioned, it was so, so hot all day and well into the evening, but Kiesa and Mason’s people were so high energy and about celebrating these two all night (and honestly, weekend) long. The dance floor was packed and so full of excitement all night long. I really see this as a testament to the kind of people Kiesa and Mason are, and the kind of relationships they hold closest to them. The display of love for these two was so tangible all evening long, and we really cannot say enough about the high quality people these two are! I completely overshared the dance floor photos, but there really is nothing like a party at a destination wedding. We had so much fun using the light and the space to capture these.
We have not stopped talking about this trip, this wedding, this couple since this sweet weekend in June. Joseph and I are so grateful to be trusted with capturing these moments, and even more grateful to work with this caliber of a couple. We hope you enjoy Kiesa and Mason’s Hotel Xcaret wedding photos too!
A special thank you to the incredible team who made this day possible, some of Cancun’s very best wedding vendors.
Venue - Hotel Xcaret Mexico / Coordination - Corazon Luxury Weddings /
LOOKING FOR A DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER? EXPLORE OUR PACKAGES AND INQUIRE WITH US!
We’re Katie and Joseph, a husband and wife team, and documentary wedding photographers.
We are big fans of documenting wedding days in an unposed, raw, genuine, and honest way that allows our couples to maximize their experience on their day while also receiving a gallery full of stunning images that communicate how it felt to be there.
Though we’re based in Arizona + California, we’ll travel anywhere, like Mexico, for a good love story (and dance party). We invite you to follow the links below to learn more about us and our services, and to get in contact with us!
